Founded in 1975, The Arc Southern Maryland is a private 501(c)(3) organization, affiliated at the state level with The Arc of Maryland and at the national level with The Arc of the United States, the world’s largest grass roots organization of, and for, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Arc is on the front lines to ensure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families have the support and services they need to be fully engaged in their communities. The Arc works with its federation of state and local chapters to create an impressive network of human service agencies ensuring they have the strongest civil rights advocates promoting and protecting their needs at all levels. The Arc's nationwide network of chapters provides a wide range of human services and other supports to people with I/DD and their family members, including individual and public policy advocacy and residential, educational, and vocational services that let people with I/DD participate and be included in their communities. In addition, many of our chapters provide person-centered and financial planning, recreational activities, and other supports that meet the unique needs of people with I/DD and their families.